Loose-leaf-ledger binder.



PATENTED OCT. 30, 1906.

R. B. WILSON. LOOSE LEAF LEDGER BINDER.

APPLIOATION FILED 0012s, 1905.

7 y M i K III! III I llml III/

- lllllllll III/II UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RALPH WILSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

. LOOSE-LEAF-LEDGER BINDER.

' Stateof llinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Loose-Leaf- Ledger Binders; and I do hereby declare and defined in the a that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

' This invention relates to improvements in 'loose-leaf-ledger binders, and more particularly to an expans'ible ledger-binder having a closed back.

Various devices have heretofore been employedffor adjusting the back-sections toafi'ord the desired or necessary capacity for devices of this class, and when ad usted the mechanism is sometimes locked to hold the parts in adjusted relation. In some instances a key is em loyed to operate the binder in opening an closing the same, and where this is true it sometimes happens that the binder can be opened b the use of some other key somewhat resem ling that of the binder or by the use of. some tool or implement employed for the purpose. The object of this invention is to provide a binder of the class described having an expansible back comprising a plurality 0f'sections operated by moving the same inwardly or outwardly 'to decrease or increase the capacity by means of a rotative shaft oper-v ated by a key and in which the back-sections are constructed of comparatively light material and the wearing-surfaces faced with harder material.

It is a further object ofthe invention to provide a ositive lock for the shaft acting to rigidl ho d the binder from unauthorized inte erence when in adjusted position and except by the use ofa specially-prepared key.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described, and more fully-pointed out pended claims.

In the drawings, igure 1 is an inner plan view of a binder-back embodying my invention, showing the back contracted or partly closed. Fi 2 is a section taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fi 3 is an enlarged section taken on line 3 3 0% Fig. 1. Fi 4 is an enlarged section taken on line 4 4 of Fi 3. Fig. 5 is an enlarged section taken on ine 5 5 of Fig.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed October '36. 1906. Serial No- 284,529-

Patented. Oct. 30,1906.

1 Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 1, but showing the shaft in elevation. Fig.

7 is a side elevation of a key used in connection with my invention.

As shown in said drawings, A and A indicate the outer or lateral back-sections, each of which are provided on the rear side or back (1 thereof with a flat contact-face of considerable width adapted to slide on a middle back-section A", which is convex on its outer side and concave on the inner, affording a rounded back for the book. Integral webs a a" are provided-at the ends of sa1d central back-section, closing the same. sa1d lateral sections A and A are rovided at their ends with inwardly-directe webs a,- integral with.

the backs and sides thereof, and inasmuch as the sections are usually formed of cast aluminium to afford a light construction steel facings a are rigidly secured on the inner sides of said webs.

A block B is rigidly secured on the back A adjacent the Web or end wall a and is of a height sufficient to bring the same flush with the, inner faces of the back a of the lateral sections A and A. An enlarged aperture is provided through said block and the end wall a to receive the an ular end of a screw-shaft C, the opposite en s of which are provided, respectively, with right and left' th eads. Rigidly secured. upon said block B and on a corresponding block B at the" opposite end of the back-section A arev plates band b, of steel or other suitable material, which bear against the inner hardened facings a on the end web a of the lateral members A A and a ainst the backs a thereof and afford a ide t erefor.

Secured centrally in the k-section A are alined bearings c, which support the unthreaded' middle of the shaft, and adjacent the inner, ends of the threads on said shaft IOO oted thereon, extend oppositely to each lateral section A A, as shown in ig. '1, and are pivotally connected at their ends therewith, so that rotation of said shaft in one direction causes said nuts to travel inwardl increasing the capacity of the binder, wlii e rotation of the shaft oppositely moves the nuts outtion and engage throu forced beneath t wardly, thus contracting the binder. idly secured upon the inner side of the backsections A and A are oppositely-disposed complemental telescoping imphlingposts, each com )rising a sectiond) and a section D slidable t erein and which, as shown, are secured alternately on each lateral back-sech suitable perforations in the rear of'the s the binder and act to hold the same in place.

The end 0 of the shaft )rojecting through the block B and end wall a, as shown, is rectan ular in form and adapted to be engaged iy a cylindric key X, having a coinplemental bore therein and the engaging end of which is tapered, as indicated by as in Fig. 7 and is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4. A bolt or locking-plate E bent, as shown in Fig. 4, .to afford an arm 6, which engages across the end of the block B, is arranged to slide along the outer face of said block between the same and the web of the lateral member A and is notched to'nt closely to the angular end 0 of the shaft and acts to rigidly hold the same from movement. A lug e is turned outwardly from said bolt when the notch is formed and is provided with an inclined outer end, which protrudes alongside of the shaft end beneath which the tapered end of the key engages when forced inwardly and which acts to force the bolt E out of engagement with'the shaft, as shown in dotted lines in Figs. 3 and 4. spring E is enga ed on one of the screws c, whereby the guide and clamping plate I) is secured on said block and is bent to press against the arm e of the bolt and acts ,at all times to force the bolt into positive engagement with theshaft.

The operation is as follows: The binder is at all times locked from interference by means of the bolt E, which positively engages and clasps-the angular end of -the shaft and holds the same firmly from movement, and from the construction described it is evident that no key or other instrument can release said bolt other than a cylindric key tapered to engage beneath the'lug c to re-' tract the bolt. With such a key, however, the inclined or ta ered end thereof is readily e bolt, forcing the same laterallyand permitting the barrel of the key to pass between the bolt and the angular end of theshaft. The shaft may be rotated in eitherdirection either to increase or: to restrict the capacity of the binder, the nuts on said shaft both traveling inwardly or outwardly, dependent on the direction of rotation, and reducing the characteristic adjustment of the lateral back-sections.

While I have described my invention as provided with a particular kind of impeding-posts,

obviously any suitable posts for the purpose may be used and also any rotatable. means may be used for adjusting the binder to the Rigeet to be secured in.

As shown, a strongpushingdesired capacity. Itherefore do not purpose limiting this application for patent otherwise than necessitated by the prior art, as obviously many details of construction and arrangement may be varied without departing from the principles of my invention.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a binder of the class described the combination with rotative adjusting means of a. lock' therefor embracing a transversely-- movable boltada ted to engage and positively hold said a justing means, a lug projecting outwardly from said bolt, adapted to force said bolt out of locking engagement when a key is forced on the adjusting means.

2. In a binder of the class described, the combination with key-operated, rotative adjusting means of a lock therefor embracing a transversely-movable bolt notched to engage and positively hold said adjusting means and integral means thereon adapted to force said bolt out of engagement when the keyis forced inwardly.

3. In a device of the class describedthe combination with a rotatable adj ustingeshaft, of a notched bolt extending transversely thereof and adapted to lock the same from rotation and provided with a beveled lug adapted to be engaged by a key when pressed inwardly on said adjustingshaft.

4. The combination with" expansible" and retractable backsseetions of a rotatable shaft.

acting to adj t the same as to capacity, an angular end on said shaft, a spring-inn elled bolt movable transversely of the shafli and acting normally to positively engage the angular end thereof, and a lug on said bolt ada ted when a key is forced inwardly on the she t to retract the bolt.

5. In a device of the class described the combination in a looseleaf binder'having adjustable binding means, of a rotative shaft adapted to adjust the same to vary the capaclty, an angularend on said shaft, a s ringimpe led bolt adapted normally to rigi yengage the shaft and providediwitha-lug approximately parallel of the shaft an da ted when a-cylindric key is-fitted to the Shaft to force the bolt out of engagement with the shaft.

' 6. In a device of the class described the combination with. a. central back-section of lateral back-sections carrying telescoping impalingeposts and slidably engaged on the central back-section, hardened facings provided on the wearing-surfaces of said sections, a rotatable shaft journaled on the central backsection and o positely threaded at its ends, a complementa nut on each end, toggle-bars engaging said nuts oppositely with the lateral back-sections, an angular end on said shaft,.a bolt slotted to engage said angular end and adapted when-a tapered, cylindric key is appliedto the shaft to move laterally out of engagement with the shaft.

7. In a device of the class described the combination with an adjusting-shaft having an angular end, of a block through which said angular end of the shaft extends, a bolt slidable on theface of said block and slotted to rigidly engage the angular end of the shaft, there being a lug on said bolt and having an outwardl -e'xtending end inclined from the shaftan a spring bearing against said bolt and holding the same normally in engagement with the shaft.

8. In a device of the class described an adjusting-shaft having an angular end thereon, a transversely-slidable, spring-impelled bolt having a slotted end ada ted to receive said angular end therein and old the shaft from rotation and means extending outwardlyfrom said bolt inclose proximity with'said shaft and adapted to have a key forced beneath the same to retract the bolt.

9. In a device of the class described the combination with adjustable back-sections of a rotatable adjusting-shaft therefor having an angular end, a block through which said end projects, a bolt slidable on the outer face of the block an dprovided with a notch adapted to engage the angular endof said shaft, a laterally-directed'arm on said bolt, a spring carried on the block and "adapted to engage said arm and force the bolt into engagement with the shaftiand a lug carried on said bolt and extending outwardly along the shaft and provided with an inclined outer end.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two sub- 

